Jakon bellowed again. Roaring louder than any boom from a lightning bolt. Roaring louder than any smithy hammer. Than any fire raging above.

Charged faster than any arrow. Faster than any lesser blade.

The boulders were there to be hopped across. The wide winding trails around them thick with orcs.

Orcs dying by his blade.

But with more and more replaced them. Their piggish sty stink curling his gut. His rage too great to make any comment. Or quip.

Only bellow some more.

But the orcs scattered? Charging past him? Under him.

Trying to avoid him?!

He cut down as many as he could. But … wait. Bronze ring gateways? Hidden by some of the larger craggier boulders ahead. Jakon leapt passed them. Behind the bronze rings were empty. Just turning round and round as they floated.

Until Jakon slashed one. Destroying it quickly.

And then another.

And another.

PUFF!

PUFF!

PUFF!

Cards? Destroyed cards. Screamed from above. Orcish screams of death.

Perfect!

Destroyed the rings and kill the orcs.

But the rings were stashed between boulders. Hard to find from the ground. From the same level.

But Jakon as a dwarf. He wasn’t about to give up so quickly.

When a wiry fox man suddenly slashed at Jakon. From behind another boulder!

Long black claw extenders slashed at his throat.

Clang.

Clang.

Clang.

Blade against blade. Training saved Jakon. No need to think.

Only act.

Yet the fox warrior pressed him back. The furball was only in slacks. No doubt relying on his regeneration rather than armor.

And a fatal mistake. Once Jakon managed to cut through his defenses.

As long as no orcs came to the fox’s aid.

And—

A purple blur zipped passed Jakon’s head.

And a purple arrow sprouted from the fox warrior’s eye. The smell of cherry musk behind Jakon …

“Scarlet?” Jakon said.

“Can’t let my master be outdone by some wretched fox boy,” Scarlet said.

The fox warrior snarled. “Traitor! Ramsel will avenge me.”

“Ramsel …” Jakon said, his heart sinking terrified of what he’d find when he got back …

And the fires of vengeance burning even hotter.

Almost as hot as the ball of flame—ball of flame!

From his left!

Jakon leapt back. Tried something desperate.

He leapt at the flame. Swung his sword at it.

Absorbed it.

Just the fox warrior lunged at him. About to slice his throat.

But another arrow sprouted from his chest. And he gurgled. And collapsed. Shoving the arrow through even more.

“Scarlet …” Jakon said.

“Thank me later,” Scarlet said, “with your dick.”

“I …” Jakon said, his cheeks burning hotter than … than …

Gulp.

Scarlet let out a laugh. “Don’t overthink it. Crude humor is part of the battle field, my little virgin sweet—”

A cry rang out to his left. A scarlet fox girl. Small chested and in a black cowled bra top and skirt.

Not armor.

No claw extenders either.

Yet she snarled. “How dare you! Die! Die with Drano!”

And blasted more fireballs at him.

But Jakon charged at her. His blade absorbed each and every fireball.

Her gasp. Her last.

His blade plunged right through her chest. Through her heart.

“No …” she said, “I don’t … not here … please.”

How many dwarves didn’t get the chance to ask for mercy.

As if any would.

“Yes. here,” Jakon said and kicked her off his blade.

She smashed into a boulder behind her. Collapsed. Dying on the ground. From his dime dreadfuls he knew her end would come soon enough. But her regeneration would keep her alive for a while longer.

But only a little.

When Scarlet screamed. “Your right!”